Banal NationalismSAGE, 1995 M08 15 - 208 pages Michael Billig presents a major challenge to orthodox conceptions of nationalism in this elegantly written book. While traditional theorizing has tended to the focus on extreme expressions of nationalism, the author turns his attention to the everyday, less visible forms which are neither exotic or remote, he describes as `banal nationalism′. The author asks why people do not forget their national identity. He suggests that in daily life nationalism is constantly flagged in the media through routine symbols and habits of language. Banal Nationalism is critical of orthodox theories in sociology, politics and social psychology for ignoring this core feature of national identity. Michael Billig argues forcefully that with nationalism continuing to be a major ideological force in the contemporary world, it is all the more important to recognize those signs of nationalism which are so familiar that they are easily overlooked. |
From inside the book
Results 6-10 of 58
Page 8
... United Kingdom or New Zealand - are not typically termed 'nationalists'. However, as will be suggested, nationhood provides a continual background for their political discourses, for cultural products, and even for the structuring of ...
... United Kingdom or New Zealand - are not typically termed 'nationalists'. However, as will be suggested, nationhood provides a continual background for their political discourses, for cultural products, and even for the structuring of ...
Page 9
... United States and its nationalism. This nationalism, above all, has appeared so forgettable, so 'natural' to social scientists, and is today so globally important. Outline of the Book The present book attempts to provide an ...
... United States and its nationalism. This nationalism, above all, has appeared so forgettable, so 'natural' to social scientists, and is today so globally important. Outline of the Book The present book attempts to provide an ...
Page 10
... United States of America, the source of much sociological thinking about 'society'. American theories of 'society' have frequently ignored the ways that American nationhood is flagged, as school pupils daily pledge their allegiance to ...
... United States of America, the source of much sociological thinking about 'society'. American theories of 'society' have frequently ignored the ways that American nationhood is flagged, as school pupils daily pledge their allegiance to ...
Page 11
... United States of America, is bidding for global hegemony. The global culture itself has a national dimension, as the symbols of the United States appear as universal symbols. Banal nationalism is not to be corralled into the sports ...
... United States of America, is bidding for global hegemony. The global culture itself has a national dimension, as the symbols of the United States appear as universal symbols. Banal nationalism is not to be corralled into the sports ...
Page 13
... United Kingdom. Language groups wanting their own state are not mysterious for newspaper readers today. Such a story bears two messages. The overt message tells British readers something about 'them', the Belgians, who might soon not be ...
... United Kingdom. Language groups wanting their own state are not mysterious for newspaper readers today. Such a story bears two messages. The overt message tells British readers something about 'them', the Belgians, who might soon not be ...
Contents
1 | |
13 | |
37 | |
National Identity in the World of Nations | 60 |
Flagging the Homeland Daily | 93 |
Postmodernity and Identity | 128 |
Philosophy as a Flag for the Pax Americana | 154 |
Concluding Remarks | 174 |
References | 178 |
Name Index | 193 |
Subject Index | 199 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
according American appear argued assumed audience banal banal nationalism become boundaries Britain British called Cambridge century Chapter citizens claim consciousness contemporary context continue created critics culture daily deixis described discourse distinction established ethnic Europe example exist familiar flag force foreign forgetting French global Guardian habits hegemony homeland hopes idea ideology imagined important independence individual interests language liberal linguistic live London major means merely movements nation-state national identity nationalist nationhood natural newspapers ourselves particular party patriotic patterns person philosophy political politicians postmodern present President Press psychological readers represent rhetoric Rorty Rorty's routine seek seems seen sense social society sort speak speakers speech sporting stereotypes story suggested symbols talking tend term territory themes theory thinking tradition United universal waved whole world of nations writes